SEGMENT: FOOD & MEALS, FARMHOUSE, & FAMILY

Mary Stark>NIU Collection>NIU Collection, Segment 20

SEGMENT: FOOD & MEALS, FARMHOUSE, & FAMILY,

duration 13:06
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FOOD & MEALS
Mother bought flour, sugar in town, produced own butter, milk, etc. at home. Didn't go to town often.
FARMHOUSE
No refrigeration, kept things cool in the milk tank. Family wanted electricity before their move back to Cloverdale, still had an outhouse though.
CHILDHOOD WORK
Helped on the farm after school and before marriage. Helped aunts with her cousins, they lived in nearby towns. Friends were mostly relatives. Corresponded via letter a lot, no telephone.
CHURCH ACTIVITIES
Knew future husband through church. Church held dances, socials, annual summer picnics.
FAMILY
Husband was a farmer. Married in October of 1939. New home was just down the road from her family. Parents-in-law had a second home on their property. Circa 1942, moved so husband could manage a large dairy farm. New home had modern conveniences and no rent! Wages on his parents' farm.
WOMEN'S WORK
Mary kept chickens and kept house. Mary raised 500 chickens on the bigger farm! Describes grading eggs, marketing process.
FAMILY
Starks decided to move to CA, Mary had relatives there. They decided to return to IL, did other jobs before getting back into farming on Mary's parents' farm. Mary relates where her family went after that. One brother passed away. Husband sublet farm.